Wellington, Apr 9 : New Zealand cricket coach Andy Moles has changed his mind and now wants to be a national selector.

Speaking as the New Zealand team disbanded at the end of the test series against India, Moles said his decision was not a reflection of the panel's work, but there was certainly an inference that he wants to be in a position to offer greater input into the team.

Wellington  - A New Zealand man who admitted raping a 22-year-old Dutch tourist at a campground was jailed Thursday for 10 years.

Maakiti Joseph Tipene, 25, a wool presser, earlier admitted nine charges, including rape and burglary in an attack on the woman and her partner in the early hours of January 15 in Southland, New Zealand's southernmost region.

Wellington  - A 29-year-old woman who gave birth on an international flight to New Zealand last month admitted Thursday to abandoning the baby girl in an aircraft toilet.

Karolina Maika was convicted and discharged after the Manukau District Court was told she was suffering a major depressive episode.

The judge heard that she had concealed her pregnancy because the child was conceived out of wedlock, which would have caused shame and embarrassment to her family and village in the Pacific island state of Samoa.

Wellington  - Two Italian sailors stranded on their crippled yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for three days were rescued Thursday by an oil tanker that steamed 800 nautical miles to their aid, New Zealand authorities reported.

The Rescue Coordination Centre said the tanker, Hellespont Trooper, lifted Pietro Fresi, 64, and his son, Vittorio Fresi, 34, to safety at 8:30 am Thursday (2030 GMT Wednesday).

Wellington - The family of a 78-year-old Indian immigrant, said to have lived by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, was Thursday mourning his death in an apparent road rage incident.

Jasmatbhai Pancha Patel died in Auckland Hospital Wednesday afternoon, a day after he was pulled from his car and beaten following what witnesses described as a minor vehicle collision in suburban Mount Albert.

Patel emigrated to New Zealand 33 years ago and lived with his two sons, their wives and five grandchildren, helping at the family fruit market, news reports said.

Wellington, Apr. 8 : New Zealand cricket team coach Andy Moles has admitted that one of the most annoying aspects of his first summer as New Zealand coach was the side''s inability to make solid starts at the crease.

The former opening batsman said the opening partnership remains a prime concern.

Seven tests into his reign an opening combination are yet to produce a stand of 50 runs. The discarded duo of Jamie How and Aaron Redmond came closest against Australia in Adelaide when they put on 46 in the first innings.